guatemala culture

One thing that probably comes to mind when the word, “Guatemala” is mentioned would be coffee. This is not surprising because with so many Starbucks Coffee Outlets in Singapore, those who frequently patronise Starbucks Coffee would have at least seen or heard of the word, “Guatemala”.But do people really know what or where Guatemala is?

To begin with, Guatemala is a country in Central America that has an area of 108,890 square kilometres [that’s 153 times the size of Singapore] with a population of around 13,276,517 where almost half of the Guatemalan population is still Mayan. The country’s main exports are organic coffee, sugar, textiles, fresh vegetables, and bananas.

Now, what is not widely known about Guatemala is the rich and distinctive Guatemalan culture and if you’re an artsy person and you’re on the hunt for some really unique handcrafted and one-of-a-kind furniture and furnishings that are inspired by the Guatemalan culture, there is this new furniture design showroom here in Singapore that you have to check out.

In Situ Design is a very different design concept showroom that features creative concepts by talented artists and designers spanning the globe from France, the USA, Canada, Mexico, to Guatemala, and the reason why we talk so much about Guatemala is because In Situ was originally founded there by French Designer, Eric Ledoigt.

So last week, I was very privileged to be at the In Situ Design showroom and there, I discovered tons of unique and exclusive handcrafted pieces that include furniture, decoration, antique, soft furnishings, and art pieces.

If you’re wondering what this is, it is essentially a candle burner for scented candles and what is really so special about this candle burner is that it can double up as a table centerpiece as well. The tiny holes that you see are actually designed for the candlelight to shine through.

After touring the showroom, I had the opportunity to interact with Eric Ledoigt and Isabelle Persenda and I found out that not only is In Situ Design selling furniture and furnishings, they also provide interior designing and consultation as well. They have had projects spanning from residential built-ups to commercial establishments like hotels and offices and in case I miss this out, Isabelle Persenda is the Creative Director of In Situ Design.

Having looked at their range of furniture and furnishings, I was rather impressed because the concept is one where you can connect with nature. The craftsmanship is exclusive and definitely superior. On top of that, 99% of the products are produced in Guatemala and the ambience that I felt when I was there was one of warmth, creativity, and originality.

Well, if you are interested to visit In Situ Design showroom, they are located at 238 River Valley Road, Singapore 238296. They are open from 10am to 7pm on Monday to Saturday, and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday. Should you be driving, the nearest parking facility is UE Square Carpark.

For more information and updates regarding In Situ Design, do check out their Facebook Page and like them! 🙂

About The Founder

A jack of all trades, Melvin was a waiter, coffee barista, hotelier, and is now a digital marketer specialising in Search Engine Optimisation and Content Writing. His hobbies include wine-tasting, boating, reading and travelling.